Viewpoint: Government program treats some people unfairly

By Mike Collins, Contributing Writer

Updated 10:23 am, Tuesday, June 18, 2013

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Viewpoint: Government program treats some people unfairly

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Since elementary school, children have been told that in the United States, everyone is treated equally. By the time you reach adulthood, you understand the cruel reality that in many instances, money talks, and the privileged receive preferential advantages.

The most recent example is a biometric-identity plan, which would whisk certain airline travelers past the long checkpoint lines to departure gates using an enrolled member's fingerprint.

Scheduled to debut locally in July, the service company states that San Antonio passengers should clear security in less than five minutes. Membership starts at $179 a year, but there are corporate and military discounts. Only a few other airports have this service, so lots of luck when returning to the Alamo City.

What's one reason that San Antonio City Council unanimously approved the contract? Well, the city gets a cut of the proceeds, making it a silent partner.

Proponents argue that this technology will “enhance the customer experience” — which it does — for still another fee.

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But if the program is so excellent, why not make it available for all? Are the masses unequal? Its costs could be offset by the savings in not having to pay for many of the Transportation Security Administration employees, and the X-ray and body scanners, which everyone now finances.

I don't mind that first-class passengers are allowed to board first and receive other perks since they pay heavily for it. I travel frequently, and perhaps I could splurge for first class, but choose to economize in the coach section, which costs about one-third as much.

At one time, frequent flyers occasionally received upgrades to priority seating when choice spots were not utilized. Today, the check-in kiosks usually ask if you want an upgrade…for a certain fee. Maybe it's $75 for a 45-minute jaunt to Houston. I'll pass, thank you.

Again, I have no gripe with this. But I do take issue when national and local governmental agencies dictate that monopolies allow some to buy their way into better travel.

As it stands, today's traveler is directed to arrive at airports two hours ahead of departure, as if our time is worthless, when better technology can reduce these delays.

Here's another way in which the government has skunked the public.

Until a few years ago, citizens did not need a passport to travel to Mexico or Canada. Since I visit Asia and Europe occasionally, I already had my documents, but many living near the borders journeyed very easily with everyday information, such as a driver's license, between our neighboring nations.

Suddenly, a passport was required. Yet somehow, our government did not ratchet up the number of personnel it would take to process all the new applications.

Under normal conditions, the waiting time to obtain or renew a passport was about two weeks. But because of the “unanticipated backlog” which seemed a slam dunk certainty to me, it could take six weeks or more.

But our government had an action plan. For a hefty price, applicants could receive “expedited processing” which would bring the waiting time back to about two weeks. So it created a logjam, then made the public pay extra to receive normal service. Sound like a bribe, doesn't it?

That's not the conclusion of this sad tale.

After mandating the passport requirement, the government decided to hike its passport fees, nearly doubling the tariff. Great business model. Compel a demand for a product, then put the bite on the forced customers with extravagant increases.

Perhaps there's simply no successful business like governmentally imposed business.

Former newsman and public relations executive Mike Collins is a North Central San Antonian. He's a landlord for single-family homes in Bexar County and suburban Phoenix.